The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed a series of key highways to serve as a highway Primary Freight Network, as required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. The notice appeared in today’s Federal Register.

A new study released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommended a series of regulatory changes to further ease the transition of military personnel and veterans into much-needed civilian jobs driving commercial motor vehicles.

Transportation is an engine for growing the U.S. economy and creating American jobs. Every day, people and businesses rely on a multi-modal transportation system to travel and to move goods to consumers at home and abroad.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has completed a years-long effort to streamline and simplify its registration system. In a notice posted Friday, the agency spelled out the changes that will take effect when the new regime kicks in a little over two years from now.

The new head of the DOT is already looking to one of the big challenges of his job, says Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge in her "All That's Trucking: blog: Getting our dysfunctional Congress to pass a real highway bill by its due date of Sept. 30, 2014.

The Senate rejected an effort to advance a transportation appropriations bill, mirroring the action yesterday by the House. In a 54 – 43 vote, the Senate declined to end debate on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations measure.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is immediately making available $2 million in emergency relief funds to help New Hampshire and Vermont cover the costs of repairing roads and bridges damaged by flooding from May through July. Each state will receive $1 million.

As Congress squares for the fight over 2014 transportation spending and long-term transportation policy, President Obama called for more infrastructure investment to create jobs and support the middle class.

Yesterday in Des Moines, Iowa with the the Interstate 80 Challenge was offically launched.
The I-80 Challenge is a multi-state awareness and high-visibility enforcement effort to encourage all drivers to drive safely on the Interstate 80 corridor and to support the efforts of the law enforcement officers. The challenge runs from July 24 to July 31.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced almost $1 million in new grants to help train veterans and military families for jobs in the transportation industry.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx was sworn in as the nation’s 17th Secretary of Transportation by Judge Nathaniel Jones in a private ceremony at U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters at 11 a.m. today.

The Senate unanimously confirmed Anthony Foxx as the 17th Secretary of Transportation, to replace Ray LaHood. The 100 – 0 vote this morning concludes a smooth nomination process for the Charlotte, N.C., mayor. He was well received by Republicans as well as Democrats at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee.

National Tank Truck Carriers has produced a new version of the Cargo Tank Rollover Prevention Video it developed with the U.S. Department of Transportation to help educate water tanker drivers on the special characteristics of tank truck vehicles and the actions they can take to avoid rollovers.

The Senate Commerce Committee Monday night approved the nomination of Anthony Foxx to be Secretary of Transportation, while the committee named Mark Warner to take over a key transportation subcommittee from the late Frank Lautenberg.